Prime Minister Schmidt apologises for 2007 Nazi salute video emerges
Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has publicly apologized for a 2007 video showing him giving a Nazi salute and saying “Heil Hitler” at a family gathering.
The seven‑second clip, first highlighted by the Samoa Observer, shows Schmidt leading a group of about a dozen people in the salute. “Raise your right hand, Heil Hitler!” he declares before thanking the audience.
In a Facebook statement released Monday, Schmidt acknowledged that the gesture and words “were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt” and clarified that the recording was from a private family reunion, “not intended for the public.” He reiterated a rejection of Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of extremism.
The controversy arrives just months after Samoa’s new government pledged continued support for the Paris Climate Agreement and outlined plans to shore up low‑lying communities endangered by rising seas. Some observers say that the incident could undermine the country’s emerging climate‑justice narrative, as it highlights lingering racial tensions that intersect with environmental vulnerability.
Schmidt, who wears a Jewish prayer shawl during his swearing‑in, has publicly voiced support for Israel and declared that “Samoa stands with the land of God… there is only one God our country believes in, the God of Israel.” Yet the stain of an extremist gesture sits squarely on his leadership—for a nation already confronting the climate crisis.
Scandals like this underscore the need for Pacific Island leaders to demonstrate inclusion and respect while pursuing climate resilience. As Samoan communities adapt to coastal erosion and increased cyclone activity, leaders must consistently model the values that will keep them united—justice, solidarity, and a shared commitment to a livable planet.
